Dedicated to: Dreamgirllogan and aubreysvampiregirl
"Mawata! Mawata!" Himeno called with a hand raised to cup her mouth, "Mawata where are you!"
Rounding the corner of the Awayuki mansion Himeno spotted Hayate, dressed in his blue jumper, working in the garden. She couldn't help, but to blush. Two weeks ago he'd kissed her good night. And she still couldn't get over it. Smiling brightly, Himeno jogged over to him. "Hayateeeee!" She drawled playfully.
Straightening and pushing his bangs back from his ocean blue eyes with the back of his hand, Hayate answered her, "what do you want Tulip Head?"
Himeno opened her mouth to give him a piece of her mind before noticing the teasing look in his eyes and the playful smirk on his lips. She smiled at him again. "Have you seen Mawata?"
"Yeah, said something about taking Mannen, Hajime, and Shin to play ball or something. Why do you want to know?"
Himeno shrugged. "No reason really. I was just worried is all. She's been a bit down ever since Kao...well..." she left it hanging.
Hayate nodded in understanding. Kneeling down, he ripped the sack of plant fertilizer open and started to fertilize the garden.
Himeno shook her head. "No, no, no, not like that."
"If you're so smart, why don't you do it?" snapped Hayate.
"Fine," Himeno sniffed, pushing her sleeves well above her elbows, "I will." Taking the sac in both hands, she hefted it over her shoulder and tipped it so that the mixed powder fell out at an even rate and walked down the pathway. For the third time in five minutes, a bright smile erupted on her face. "Here you go! Grow up to be big and strong!" She told the plants happily.
Smiling to himself, Hayate took the other bag and threw it over his shoulder just as Himeno had and followed her down the garden path, doing as she did and watching her the entire time. After this...he was taking her to lunch.
-D.K.F.L-
"Mawata!" Shin called happily, "catch!"
Smiling in reply, Mawata caught the ball before tossing it to Hajime, who tossed it to Mannen, who then tossed it to Shin. Tipi sat perched on Shin's head, buried in his blond tresses and chirping enthusiastically.
"I'm going to sit down for awhile, okay guys?" Mawata said after passing the ball onto the young water knight.
"Okay!" The chimed happily. Mannen moved over to make the distance between them even as Mawata retreated from the game and sat on the edge of the fountain they were playing near. She watched them with a small smile, glad to be able to forget a certain someone, if even for a little while.
She didn't know how long she'd been sitting there watching them when something caught her attention. She didn't know what it was and she didn't know why, but it caused her to turn her head. Narrowing her eyes in confusion, Mawata stood up from her seat.
"You guys stay here," she called to the children, "I'll be right back." Walking, almost running, she made her way to the gazebo. Whatever had caught her attention was there...she was sure of it.
Her footsteps slapped against the paved floor of the gazebo when she stepped off of the grass. Turning every which way, Mawata saw nothing, heard nothing. Now she was more confused then ever. Turning to leave, she scolded herself for letting her imagination run away with her. Just as she stepped onto the lawn once more, a multi-colored light appeared behind her and a magical sound (she didn't know any other way to describe it) stopped her dead in her tracks.
"Watching you walk away was hardly the welcome that I had in mind."
Mawata's breath caught in her throat, her heart skipped a beat, her eyes widened, her lips parted in a silent surprised gasp. Spinning on her heel to face the person who had spoken behind her, her body repeated her previous actions. Her breath caught, heart skipped, eyes widened, lips parted. "K-Kao!"
"Who else?" He said with a smirk, crossing his arms.
Mawata's surprised expression morphed into one of pure anger. Stomping up to him, she slapped him across the face. "How dare you! How DARE you disappear without a word and then come back two weeks later acting like nothing's happened! We've all been worried sick about you!"
It was Kao's turn to be surprised. Lifting a hand to cover his stinging cheek, he looked at the girl like she'd sprouted antlers...or something along those lines. "Well I'm sorry! I needed time to myself to think things over! Maybe I should just leave?"
Anger melted away from Mawata's features and turned into complete terror. "No!"
Lowering his hand, Kao smiled. "Don't worry, I wouldn't leave again."
Mawata sighed in relief. A moment of silence passed before the question nagging in her mind refused to be ignored for a second longer. "Where...where were you all this time?"
"Leafenia." He answered simply.
"Leafe...but Hayate and everyone else looked there!" Mawata pointed out.
Kao shrugged. "I wasn't ready to be found yet. But I'm here now."
Mawata smiled. "Yes, you're here now. Everyone will be so thrilled and relieved to have you back."
Kao gave her a doubtful look.
She smiled reassuringly. "Trust me. They've been on edge ever since that day."
"I do."
"You do what?"
"I do trust you."
Mawata blushed. "Oh...um...that's so sweet. That was one of the nicest thing–" She was silenced by Kao's lips covering hers.
Just as soon as it had happened it was over. "Stop talking...you're ruining the moment." Kao said casually. Shoving one hand into his pants pocket and taking hers in the other, he lead her across the yard to where Mannen and the other children still played.
Mannen was the first one to spot him and his reward was getting a ball in the stomach. Groaning and clutching the ball to his stomach, he straightened from his hunched over position. "K-Kao!" He stuttered because of his lack of breath, "that you?"
"Obviously," Kao said teasingly. Shin was the first one to act. Breaking into a run, he ran towards the Knight of Darkness as fast as his legs would carry him. Launching himself at the older boy, Shin pinned himself to Kao's legs.
"I'm sorry!" Shin said on the verge of tears, "I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"
With a knowing smile, Kao kneeled so Shin and him were eye to eye. Placing a hand on the young knight's shoulder as his head was occupied. "There's nothing to apologize for." He told him gently.
After wiping his tears away and sniffling a few times, Shin nodded and smiled. That's when Hajime and Mannen decided to attack.
"You're back!" That was Hajime.
"Where HAVE you BEEN!"
"We were so worried!"
"Hayate is SO gonna kill you! Vanishing without a word like that!"
Kao stood. "I'll answer everything later. I'd rather not have to repeat everything a million times."
"We're so happy you've finally come back," Mawata murmured. She blushed a little. This was the first time she'd spoken since Kao had...silenced her.
Kao shook his head. "I haven't come back."
"What do you mean 'haven't come back'?" Mannen demanded. Shin and Hajime nodded, backing him up.
Kao smirked. "I've come home."
-Dark Knight False Light- (The End)
It's over for real this time guys. Thanks for reading! Please review...it'll take two seconds you know